Schools Are More Than Teachers and Supplies

Some people argue that schools have plenty of money, with too much going to "overhead." Meg Whitman argued this earlier this year. She claims that 60% of school funding goes to classrooms and the rest is "overhead." In reality, what she refers to as overhead, are all the other crucial services in schools that help schools function and make the education experience complete.

Last week, a letter in the Mercury News said that classrooms get over a quarter million dollars each, which should easily cover the cost of a teacher and supplies needed. The writer left out lots of other expenses. Here is the letter I sent to the Mercury News in response:

Dear Editor:

Pete Smoot (Letters, July 30) wants an explanation of our schools' revenue problem. Besides the obvious task of teaching children, school employees need to empty trash, drive school buses, maintain facilities, order supplies, provide counseling, file attendance data, and staff front offices, libraries, and cafeterias.

In addition to teachers' salaries and benefits, schools pay for utilities, textbooks, and supplies. Our district receives less than $7000 per student from California. In an elementary classroom with 30 students, the total revenue is under $200,000. That can't adequately cover everything.

One more factor is special education. Serving these students requires additional resources that take money from other classrooms. This mandate is largely unfunded and is another reason schools can't make ends meet at current funding levels.

California funds schools below all but 2 or 3 other states. We must do better.

David Cohen

President

Berryessa Union School District Board of Trustees